Royal Navy Guard Ships

﻿UPDATE﻿: We are sorry to announce that HMS Severn has been withdrawn from the Dartmouth Regatta due to national operational tasking. The Regatta committee work tirelessly as volunteers to bring the best Regatta we can for all to enjoy. We have been incredibly successful with our guard ships over the last 14 years but sadly we can't bring you one this year. Our apologies for the disappointment.

The Regatta Committee is delighted to welcome two Royal Navy Ships to the 173rd Port of Dartmouth Royal Regatta - HMS Severn and HMS Dasher. We hope their crews will have a memorable visit, will enter events and enjoy our hospitality. Both ships will have hours of SOTV (ship open to visitors) and times will be announced when finalised.

HMS Severn​HMS Severn is the second River-class built by Vosper Thornycroft at their Woolston yard and launched in December 2002. She is one of the trio of Offshore Patrol Vessels ploughing the seas around the UK almost every day of the year.

HMS Severn inherited the nickname of her predecessor, the ninth HMS Severn, a wartime submarine which served in the Atlantic and Norwegian campaigns. The submarine survived the entire conflict, earning her the title ‘Lucky Severn’. The three River class Offshore Patrol Vessels patrol the UK EEZ, routinely operating hundreds of miles off the UK coast.

Their primary role is to deliver maritime security, encompassing fishery protection and Marine Management tasks on behalf of the Marine Management Organisation, as well as a wide range of operations to ensure the security, integrity, and safety of UK waters. Recently the ship had a successful eight-month deployment across the Caribbean where she provided security and reassurance to the British Overseas Territories and dependencies. HMS Severn travelled over 30,000 miles whilst away, visiting 29 ports and strengthening bonds across 20 different countries and islands where she was on standby to assist in the event of a natural disaster. ​More from RN on HMS Severn

HMS DasherHMS Dasher is an Archer-class P2000 patrol and training vessel of the British Royal Navy. She is currently the training vessel for Bristol URNU, based at HMNB Devonport in Plymouth, but in the past has served in Cyprus and at Faslane. HMS Dasher provides an opportunity for students to spend time at sea, both on sea weekends and longer deployments during university breaks. The unit meets once a week, on a Tuesday evening, during term-time, and these drill nights include theoretical instruction, practical chartwork and an insight into Naval and military activities.

​Sport and Adventurous Training plays an important role in developing teamwork and leadership within the unit, and weekly sports practice sessions are undertaken, which all members of the unit are encourage to attend. In addition each student will normally attend three sea-training weekends and a two-week deployment over the Easter or Summer holidays. Recruiting takes place at the start of each academic year in late September and early October. For more information please contact us: Bristol University Royal Naval Unit, HMS Flying Fox, Winterstoke Rd, Bristol BS3 2NS.